五氯酚生物降解机理与外生菌根真菌对五氯酚可降解性

五氯酚是氯酚族中最具毒性和最难降解的有机污染物。不同种类的微生物由于其降解污染物的生化机制不同,使得五氯酚的降解途径多样化。文章通过综述好氧与厌氧微生物降解五氯酚的降解菌和降解途径,认为五氯酚首先通过脱氯转化为低氯代化合物后再开环,因此脱氯就成为五氯酚降解的关键步骤。参与脱氯的关键酶系主要包括过氧化物酶和酚氧化酶。外生菌根真菌可降解多种难降解有机污染物,并具有生成过氧化物酶和酚氧化酶的机制,因此外生菌根真菌具有降解五氯酚的潜力与优势。这些信息将为进一步开展五氯酚生物降解机理研究,应用微生物—植物复合系统修复污染土壤提供基础。     

低磷诱导水稻化感抑草能力增强的分子生理特性

以化感水稻PI312777和非化感水稻Lemont为供体,以无芒稗(Echinochloa crusgalli L.)为受体,采用水培的方法研究低磷(P,0.5 mg L-1)胁迫下稻/稗共培体系中水稻化感抑草作用的分子生理机制.结果表明,低磷条件下,化感水稻PI312777抑草效应增强,对稗草的保护酶活性及其它生理生化指标呈明显的抑制作用.进一步分析发现,低磷条件下,化感水稻PI312777根和叶组织中苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性及总酚含量上升,且明显高于非化感水稻Lemont.对水稻根系分泌物中酚类物质的HPLC分析结果表明,低磷条件下,从化感水稻PI312777根系分泌物中检出的酚酸类物质总量是正常磷素条件下的2.89倍,而非化感水稻Lemont中的则是正常磷素条件下的1.17倍.两个水稻品种根部和叶部酚酸代谢途径关键酶基因的差异表达分析结果表明,化感水稻PI312777酚酸代谢途径的4个关键酶基因均上调表达,而非化感水稻Lemont中只有苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因上调,其余均下调.可见,低磷条件下,化感水稻PI312777化感抑草能力增强与其酚酸代谢途径关键酶基因增强表达,代谢途径旺盛,进而导致酚酸类物质含量增加有关.     

酚酸类化合物各基团对土壤中氮的硝化作用的影响

本文观察到酚酸类化合物分子中的酚羟基对土壤中氮硝化有关的微生物及酶具有毒性作用,是抑制土壤中氮硝化作用的主要影响基团。羧基或羧乙烯基对酚羟基抑制硝化作用的影响有一定的抵消作用,其中羧乙烯基的抵消作用更强。由于这一抵消作用,本文中七种酚类化合物对土壤中氮硝化作用的抑制总的来说是微弱的。     

污染土壤中菲的修复技术研究进展

菲是多环芳烃中的代表性物质,具有"三致"效应,而且菲的蒸汽压小,辛醇-水分配系数高,生物可利用性低,是一种持久性有机污染物。随着化石燃料的大量使用,受菲污染的土壤越来越多,研究菲的修复技术对污染土壤的再利用具有重要意义。结合目前国内外研究进展,综述了污染土壤中菲的修复方法,包括物理修复、化学修复和生物修复。针对各种修复方法,阐述了其原理、修复条件、实例应用和优缺点,重点论述了植物修复和微生物修复方法的降解机理和应用,分析了微生物性质,包括氧、营养物、温度、土壤理化性质、共存污染物等环境因素对生物降解的影响。由于溶解性的菲有较好的迁移转化能力,因此表面活性剂的助溶作用适用于各种修复方法,选择合适的表面活性剂可以提高修复效果。在各种修复技术中,物理修复是通过物理技术实现菲的解吸与富集,无污染,但是去除率低;化学修复是使用氧化剂将菲氧化分解成无毒易降解的小分子物质或通过添加化学淋洗剂增加菲的溶解性,提高迁移转化能力,用时短,但是引入其他试剂,容易造成二次污染;植物修复是通过植物的提取、降解和固定等过程实现菲的修复,尤其是植物的根际环境为微生物的生长提供有利的条件;微生物修复以菲可作为微生物生长的碳源为基础,在分解酶的作用下实现菲的降解,但是生物修复周期长,可利用的生物少,而且可能生成毒性更高的中间代谢产物。因此,寻找合适的修复物种,采用基因技术提高生物的修复能力或多法联用、取长补短可提高修复效率。最后,在共降解理论的基础上,结合重金属和有机污染物共存时,一种物质的存在对另一种物质的降解有促进作用,提出了协同降解的概念,寻求对多种污染物有协同降解或共降解作用的修复方法是今后发展的主要方向。     

无回流A1/O/A2/VFCW工艺处理农村生活污水的荧光光谱解析

利用三维荧光光谱结合荧光区域积分法(FRI),考察无回流厌氧/好氧/缺氧/垂直潜流人工湿地(NrA_1/O/A_2/VFCW)处理农村生活污水过程中DOM降解机制.结果表明,原水中DOM主要由酪胺酸类蛋白、色氨酸类蛋白、胡敏酸类物质,以及较低含量的富里酸类物质、溶解性微生物代谢产物构成;总荧光标准体积与TOC、UV_(254)呈正相关(R~2=0.93、0.96);在生物-生态耦合法协同作用下,装置有效降解DOM,荧光区域Ⅰ—Ⅴ中的积分标准体积的降解率达到89.0%、77.1%、36.0%、77.5%、59.9%;好氧对生物处理单元DOM的去除贡献最高,荧光区域Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅳ中物质的相对去除率达到34.7%、23.2%、41.2%,对荧光区域Ⅲ和Ⅴ中的腐殖质类物质降解率为-6.5%、9.2%;生态处理单元由于填料络合作用与植物根系的吸收,有效降解可生化性较弱的富里酸、胡敏酸等腐殖质,相对去除率分别为39.9%、55.8%,弥补了生物单元对腐殖质类物质降解的不足.本研究对于生物-生态法处理农村生活污水机制及工艺设计有一定参考价值.     

根系分泌物及其在植物营养中的作用

论述了根系分泌物的种类和影响因素，根系分泌物在植物营养中的调节作用、异种克生作用，根系分泌物与根际微生物的相互作用。在铁胁迫条件下，许多高等植物都能产生一系列生理和形态方面的适应性反应，禾本科植物通过根际特定分泌物——麦根酸类物质来自动调节其体内的铁营养状况；在磷胁迫条件下，根系分泌的低分子有机酸种类主要有柠檬酸、草酸、酒石酸和苹果酸，它们在植物根际的富集能明显促进土壤中磷的释放，提高作物对磷的吸收，缓解植物的磷胁迫；在锌胁迫条件下，双子叶植物的根系分泌物对锌的活化作用不明显，而禾本科植物的根系分泌物可以活化石灰性土壤中难溶性锌。     

植物对卤代有机污染物吸收、迁移和代谢的研究进展

卤代有机污染物(Halogenated organic pollutants,HOPs)在环境中具有持久性、长距离迁移性、生物积累性和潜在的生物毒性等特点,HOPs所引起的环境问题已成为全球环境科学研究热点。植物是环境介质中各种污染物的重要存储体,也是各类污染物进入陆生食物链的重要途径。研究植物对HOPs的吸收、传输与转化特征,对明确HOPs的环境行为、生态风险评价及植物修复等都具有重要的意义。文章在总结了近年来国内外关于植物对HOPs累积研究的基础上,综述了植物对大气、土壤和水体中HOPs的吸收和传输特征、HOPs在植物体内的迁移特征和代谢转化途径,分析了影响HOPs在植物中的积累、传递、降解与转化行为的主要因素。研究表明,辛醇-空气分配系数(Octanol-air partition coefficient,KOA)和辛醇-水分配系数(Octanol-water partition coefficient,Kow)是影响植物吸收HOPs的关键因素,当化合物的log Kow值在6~8的范围内时,植物根系对HOPs的根系富集因子(Root concentration factors,RCFs)较高;植物体内的脂质含量、化合物的理化性质和环境介质的差异是影响HOPs在植物体内传输的重要因素;脱卤代原子是植物降解HOPs的主要途径,而甲氧基化和羟基化是HOPs在植物体内转化的主要模式,具有还原脱卤酶基因的土壤细菌和植物体内的硝酸还原酶(Na R)与谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)能有效促进植物对HOPs的降解代谢。这些研究虽然都取得了一定的进展,但关于植物对HOPs积累迁移与代谢转化的研究仍处于起步阶段,文章就新型HOPs在植物体内积累、传输与代谢机制及采用植物修复技术降低HOPs的环境毒性等方面进行了讨论和展望。     

玉米异羟肟酸类物质的分泌与其耐铝性的关系

铝毒是植物在酸性土壤中生长的主要限制因子,由于生长环境的差异,植物进化出不同的策略来抵抗铝毒害。阐明这些机理,将有助于开发抗铝毒农作物新品种。大部分陆生植物利用根系分泌一些有机酸来对付铝毒害,但根系分泌的异羟肟酸类物质(丁布和门布等)与玉米的耐铝能力的关系尚未见报道。收集中国56个主栽玉米(Zea mays)品种,设置铝胁迫试验,测定它们在铝的胁迫下根系异羟肟酸的分泌量、根伸长量、根尖胼胝质的质量分数和铝质量分数,分析了根系分泌的异羟肟酸与玉米耐铝能力的相关性。结果表明,铝可诱导玉米根系分泌异羟肟酸;用铝处理后,玉米根伸长受阻,根尖铝质量分数和胼胝质质量分数增加。在铝的胁迫下,根相对伸长率与异羟肟酸分泌量呈极显著正相关(r丁布=0.455 0**,r门布=0.600 8**),而根尖铝质量分数与异羟肟酸分泌量呈极显著负相关(r丁布=-0.354 2**,r门布=-0.484 1**),根尖胼胝质质量分数与异羟肟酸分泌量也呈负相关(r丁布=-0.365 1**,r门布=-0.135 1)。并且,聚类分析表明耐铝型的30个玉米品种在铝胁迫下根系分泌异羟肟酸的能力显著高于铝敏感型的7个品种。这些研究结果表明,铝诱导的根系分泌异羟肟酸类物质可能是一些耐铝玉米品种抵御铝毒害的一种机制。     

稳定同位素技术在污染环境生物修复研究中的应用

稳定同位素技术主要应用于地球化学,它是将人工合成的同位素标记特定的化合物,追踪标记物在生命活动中的变化规律,目前该项技术也广泛应用于环境微生物学、生态学、生物医学等领域.生物修复是利用存在于土壤、地下水和海洋等环境中的生物特别是微生物将有毒、有害的污染物降解为二氧化碳和水,或转化为无害物质,从而使污染的生态环境修复为正常生态环境的过程.这些降解微生物都来自于小部份可培养微生物,对于大部份未可培养降解微生物,通常在实验室条件下很难得到.而利用稳定同位素技术,如13C标记底物,收集利用该底物的微生物核酸,就可以得到具有降解作用的功能微生物,为环境污染生物修复提供重要的菌源和功能基因.环境中的许多物质都可以用SIP来标记,这些标记物主要有PLFA-SIP、DNA-SIP、RNA-SIP等,它们都可以用来在复杂样本中进行有特殊代谢功能微生物的鉴定和分析,在利用微生物进行生物修复中具有重要的意义.图2表1参42     

青霉素对土壤微生物群落结构的影响

利用Biolog-ECO技术分析不同青霉素浓度处理下土壤微生物的群落代谢活性及结构多样性,利用变性梯度凝胶电泳(denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis,DGGE)技术分析典型微生物群落结构变化情况,探讨青霉素对土壤微生物群落的生态毒理效应。主成分分析(PCA)结果表明,高浓度青霉素(400和800 mg·kg-1)处理能快速诱导土壤中以酚酸类化合物为碳源的微生物菌群富集。DGGE结果显示,在高浓度青霉素(800 mg·kg-1)胁迫初期,土壤中微生物多样性指数(Shannon-Wiener index)显著降低(P0.05);7 d后,主要微生物群落结构随土壤中青霉素降解又逐渐恢复。     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

Threats to intact tropical peatlands and opportunities for their conservation

Large, intact areas of tropical peatland are highly threatened at a global scale by the expansion of commercial agriculture and other forms of economic development. Conserving peatlands on a landscape scale, with their hydrology intact, is of international conservation importance to preserve their distinctive biodiversity and ecosystem services and maintain their resilience to future environmental change. We explored threats to and opportunities for conserving remaining intact tropical peatlands; thus, we excluded peatlands of Indonesia and Malaysia, where extensive deforestation, drainage, and conversion to plantations means conservation in this region can protect only small fragments of the original ecosystem. We focused on a case study, the Pastaza‐Marañón Foreland Basin (PMFB) in Peru, which is among the largest known intact tropical peatland landscapes in the world and is representative of peatland vulnerability. Maintenance of the hydrological conditions critical for carbon storage and ecosystem function of peatlands is, in the PMFB, primarily threatened by expansion of commercial agriculture linked to new transport infrastructure that is facilitating access to remote areas. There remain opportunities in the PMFB and elsewhere to develop alternative, more sustainable land‐use practices. Although some of the peatlands in the PMFB fall within existing legally protected areas, this protection does not include the most carbon‐dense (domed pole forest) areas. New carbon‐based conservation instruments (e.g., REDD+, Green Climate Fund), developing markets for sustainable peatland products, transferring land title to local communities, and expanding protected areas offer pathways to increased protection for intact tropical peatlands in Amazonia and elsewhere, such as those in New Guinea and Central Africa which remain, for the moment, broadly beyond the frontier of commercial development.     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.